Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaitlin Gauna.
Hi Kaitlin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. Growing up, I would have told you I wanted to be an entomologist, to study insects. My childhood was spent observing every bug I could catch. By the age of 20, I was in the middle of India surrounded by bugs, but I was not an entomologist. I remember being in a hospital, sitting between the legs of a worn-down woman who had just given birth. Mice were scurrying by. Flies were buzzing around my head. My lunch had been served with a mosquito smashed on the plate. As I sat down to mend this woman’s gaping lacerations, a cockroach crawled out from the wound. I hardly reacted, except to sweep it away with my elbow to try to keep my hands as clean as possible. How did I get here? How did I transition from catching bugs to catching babies?
I was partially influenced by the fact that my mother had an unassisted home birth with me, the youngest of her six children. I became an aunt at a young age and was always welcomed to attend the family deliveries. I witnessed my first birth at the age of 10 and continued attending the family’s births all through my teens. I loved birth, I loved the process, and I found myself feeling jealous when the midwife would get to “catch” the baby.
When I learned about a school specializing in midwifery care for developing countries, I realized immediately that this was my calling. I worked hard to earn the funds for the trip and completed every pre-requisition for the school. In just a few years, I completed the course for midwifery care in Australia, and from there, I was sent to Tanzania, Zanzibar, and India to practice as a midwife.
During my travel, my perspective of birth changed dramatically. What I had seen while attending the deliveries in America was nothing like what I saw daily in these countries. Similar to what I witnessed with my family, delivery here was empowering and often achieved without interventions. However, unlike America, this was sometimes because access to needed interventions was limited or completely unavailable, so situations could quickly turn fatal. Death was as normal as birth. There was a table for the deceased newborns and a table for living ones, right next to each other. Some days the table for the deceased ones exceeded the live ones, and some days it wasn’t just the baby that didn’t make it, but the mother too.
After returning to America, I found comfort in supporting families during their deliveries as a doula, offering comfort and emotional support during labor. The medical management was left to the midwives if it was a home birth and physicians if it was a hospital birth. It was like culture shock seeing what we had access to in America, even simple things like having actual cord clamps instead of ripping the rubber “wrist” out of my gloves to tie off a cord. Yet, there was also an imbalance. Overseas there wasn’t access for families to make choices, yet under the care of physicians in America, there were so many options. However, I repeatedly witnessed that instead of educating families, the decisions were always made for them. Either way, it was the same. Families weren’t allowed to make crucial decisions surrounding their care, whether they had access or not.
I witnessed many families being pushed into unnecessary interventions. I wasn’t against interventions, and I fought for access to them many times. But now, I was finding the opposite. Every intervention has risks, and when a patient didn’t want it, it was often forced on them. I was once with a patient threatened with a c-section if she didn’t deliver but could not go to the restroom because they were concerned that the baby would fall out.
I found myself getting angry with our hospital systems here, just as I did overseas. The statistics became clear why America can spend more on healthcare than any other first-world country. Yet, we have almost the worst infant and maternal mortality rates in comparison. Why were we using and abusing resources when they weren’t even necessary and against families’ wills? There had to be a balance, and there had to be options. The very interventions created to save lives are also unnecessarily used, often creating traumatic experiences and complicated recoveries.
I’ve found that balance in midwifery care. Being a midwife requires the knowledge to know what to do and when not to do anything. I spend the pregnancy educating families on their choices and supporting them in their decisions. While I specialize in providing medical care for home births, the real foundation is supportive care for all families. There is no such thing as a no-risk pregnancy. Every decision a family makes has risks and benefits, and I believe they should get a say in those decisions. I also think that this exercise in decision-making is foundational for parents, as they will have to make decisions and weigh risks and benefits in every aspect of their child’s life. So, my work is to act as a guide for their options and provide a supported experience in any setting. While I hope each of my clients can have the birth of their dreams, it is not my number one goal for them. My goal as a provider is for my clients to feel respected in their care, empowered in their decision-making, and safe during their most vulnerable moments.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road? As a teenager, the thought of having any career didn’t feel like a possibility. I had a very rural upbringing, was unschooled, and had severe dyslexia. I was still struggling to read at the age of 16. The experience of going overseas was so challenging that it was a “make you or break you” type of experience, but it made me. Not only did I learn I was capable of saving lives, but I was also capable of a career.
While the work is gratifying, the burden is heavy, not only for me but also for my family. As the sole provider for my practice, I develop deep and personal relationships with each family, so decisions regarding their care are not taken lightly. If the outcome isn’t what they had hoped for, I feel their pain with them. Coming home from each delivery requires time to recover physically and mentally.
Additionally, my family’s schedule is entirely dominated by my clients coming first. I always have to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice, and there is no way ever to know how long I will be gone. It is difficult for my little ones to understand this. It also makes it very difficult to find childcare.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others? While pregnancy care is on a similar schedule to that of obstetricians, it is approached differently. I take on a limited number of clients to ensure an adequate amount of time for each family. Clients are welcome to bring spouses, children, or even concerned or questioning family members to their visits. Visits usually are 30 to 60 minutes each, spent entirely with me, and we discuss the pregnancy and personal matters, such as access to healthy foods, support at home, and any situational stress.
I also prefer to offer an all-inclusive service. I include all of the standard labs as part of the care. I am partnered with a sonographer who does their ultrasounds in their own homes. And, I provide a doula (birth coach) who gives them comfort and encouragement during their labor. Lastly, there are also supplies and equipment for water birth included for every patient.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us? I can run my own practice because of the strong connections I have made with local birth professionals who have been incredible examples and allow me to learn alongside them. So, even though I am the only provider for my practice, I am certainly not alone in my journey, and I am so grateful for the wonderful midwives in the community who provided emotional support to me through two miscarriages and care and safety during my own two home births. Pricing: All inclusive service: $6250 Contact Info: Email:momentsmidwifery@gmail.com Website:https://www.momentsmidwifery.com/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/moments.midwifery/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/momentsmidwifery Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq_kLjtKmbZ9mohVMsQ_dKg


This session allows you to expand your listening skills into your role as a coach.
By shifting the focus from solutions to genuine curiosity, you will support a peer in clarifying a current work challenge. Through active listening and open-ended questioning you can facilitate illuminating their preconceptions, blocks, and concerns. With this approach, coaching becomes a reciprocal process whereby the coach also gains new perspectives on their own work issues.
This module asks you to:
practice coaching by using a prescribed set of questions; focus on curiosity and wonder; challenge your concept of what it is to coach someone.


This Decade is not the first Decade to take on the challenge of ocean science. In 1971-1980, earlier generations embarked on the International Decade of Ocean Exploration. As part of that Decade, ground breaking, large-scale collaborative research projects occurred and many of its initiatives, such as the World Ocean Circulation Experiment, permanently changed the face of ocean exploration. However, one crucial difference remains between the two Decades: in the 1970s, the aim was to generate the “science we wanted”. In today’s world, we no longer have that luxury, and the current Decade is resolutely focused on the “science we need”.
The Implementation Plan for such a major undertaking as the Decade cannot be, and is not prescriptive. Rather it provides a framework for transformational action that will build on existing achievements and deliver action across geographies, sectors, disciplines, and generations. I hope you, the reader and a Decade stakeholder, will share the overall strategic vision and approach of the Decade as described in the Implementation Plan. With your engagement and your support, the impact of the Decade will be much bigger than the sum of the individual components and together we will be able to create the science we need for the ocean we want.


“The McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, indicates that State Educational Agencies (SEAs) must ensure that homeless children and youths have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as is provided to other children and youths. The SEA and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) in the State must review and revise any laws, regulations, practices, or policies that may act as barriers to the identification, enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children and youths. Homeless students must also have access to the education and other services that they need to meet the same challenging State academic standards to which all students are held. Eligibility You might qualify for assistance through a federal law called the McKinney -Vento Act if your family lives in the following:
In a Shelter
In a motel or campground due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodation
In a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station
Doubled-up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship Who can I talk with about my child's education? 1. Every school district has a local homeless education liaison. Shelby Holle is the liaison for Irvington Grade School. Please contact her by email at sholle@irvingtongradeschool.com or phone at 618.249.6439. 2. Talk with your child's teachers when you enroll him or her in school. Meet with them on a regular basis to discuss your child's academic progress. 3. Meet with the school counselor to discuss the best interventions to use to assist with any changes or challenges he or she is facing. 4. The school principal or district staff can all provide valuable assistance. Please reach out to them as needed. Reference National Center for Homeless Education, [n.d.], What you need to know to help your child in school, https://nchehelpline.org/collections/limit-5/products/parent-booklet-english. ” https://www.neoga.k12.il.us/


The Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy (PASB) is an award presented by a school or school entity (e.g., a school district, charter school, cyber charter school, or nonpublic school) in recognition of students who have attained intermediate-high proficiency in English and one or more additional world languages upon high school graduation.
The Seal of Biliteracy encourages students to study and attain proficiency in English and another world language to promote civic and global engagement. It also demonstrates that biliteracy and bilingualism are academically challenging endeavors. By earning the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy, students demonstrate readiness to engage in the global community.
The toolkit is designed to provide guidance to school entities who may elect to offer the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy.


Water utilities collect, store and manage vast data sets using many information systems (IS). For infrastructure asset management (IAM) planning those data need to be processed and transformed into information. However, information management efficiency often falls short of desired results. This happens particularly in municipalities where management is structured according to local government models. Along with the existing IS at the utilities' disposal, engineers and managers take their decisions based on information that is often incomplete, inaccurate or out-of-date. One of the main challenges faced by asset managers is integrating the several, often conflicting, sources of information available on the infrastructure, its condition and performance, and the various predictive analyses that can assist in prioritizing projects or interventions. This paper presents an overview of the IS used by Portuguese water utilities and discusses how data from different IS can be integrated in order to support IAM.


Abstract
Communication about places is typically termed place branding and is generally situated within the marketing discipline. However, in practice, place branding shares many commonalities with public relations. It involves relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, reputation management, and communication campaigns that involve no direct sale of a product. While some have noted the parallels between place branding and public relations, the intersection of these two fields has not been reviewed empirically. This study examines the relationship between public relations and place branding by exploring how scholars in each field have conceptualised and represented the other in their research publications. A systematic review of 378 journal articles, published from 1988 to 2018 in 18 selected journals from both fields, was conducted. This research shows that while there is a significant conceptual crossover between the two fields and they work together in practice, the place branding literature largely treats public relations as a promotional tactic rather than a disciplinary body of knowledge. Conversely, outside of public diplomacy research, public relations has shown little interest in places and place communication, and there is limited research applying public relations theories and concepts to places. This paper adds to current knowledge on the interdisciplinarity of public relations theories and concepts and how public relations is perceived outside its own field and suggests new possibilities for interdisciplinary research on place communication.


After a constant instability and surge in
Oil prices for almost two years, finally, some recovery is observed in Oil prices, offering companies and private equity firms a long-awaited relief shedding the unvalued assets in U.S. Oil patch.
The initial five months of 2021 announced $6.9 billion worth of sales of land parcels, close to surpassing the total of $7 billion recorded throughout 2020 analyzed by data vendor Enverus. So far, 2020 was the worst year for the U.S. acreage market, with extremely declined sales witnessed after 2006.
This drop in sales was attributed the plunging energy prices amidst the destructions caused due to COVID-19. 2021 is anticipated to witness an optimistic number of deals with the availability of land worth over $12 billion for either sale or for the utilization by the U.S. market, according to a bunch of industry bankers and sources interviewed by Reuters.U.S crude prices were observed to be at their highest at a 43% rise in crude prices ever since October 2018. Such circumstances have led to a shift of the unwanted acreage to be desirable for smaller groups of buyout firms, also few publicly listed energy corps with sufficient capital support.
Sales of such properties are expected to propel development after so many years of underinvestment opportunities, enhancing the productivity of U.S energy to suffice the growing demand. Recently, Warnburg Pincus, a private equity firm, appealed for indicative acquisition offers put forth for RimRock
Oil and Gas, a North Dakota-based producer, a deal worth $500 million.


Girls desire to emulate their mother’s acts and appearance. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to give a pretend cosmetics kit as a present. It’s a delightful possession to have, and it comes with some incredible features and advantages. However, play makeup sets are not always extremely safe. Some of them may include toxic chemicals, which is why it is safe to purchase
kids makeup that is chemical-free.
Here’s what you ought to know before getting your little one a makeup kit:
Brand Name Does Not Guarantee Quality Ingredients
Some individuals associate well-known brands with exceptional quality, but this is not always the case. Even well-known cosmetics products may include allergens. Regardless of the brand, you must investigate the
kids makeup ingredients. This is one of the most necessary precautions to take.
To avoid potential danger, ensure that the things you are purchasing have been tested. Request lab testing results, particularly for lipstick, blush, and eyeshadow, to confirm that your children’s cosmetics are free of toxins.
Adult Cosmetics Are Not Appropriate for Children’s Skin
Some mothers allow their children to borrow their cosmetics. That is not a very wise decision.
The skin of children is significantly more delicate than that of adults. Thus the substances they apply to their faces must be mild enough for their skin.
Adult cosmetics are designed to last all day, and some are even waterproof, making them extremely difficult to remove. They could include several ingredients that might irritate a child’s delicate skin.
Therefore, if you decide to get a beauty kit for your young princess, ensure it is created for children.
Be Aware of Expiration Dates
Never allow your child to play with outdated cosmetics.
Adult cosmetics contain several chemical preservatives that maintain the chemistry for at least two years. All cosmetics are required to contain preservatives to prevent microbial deterioration, which would render the product hazardous for use. Ideal kids makeup would have few preservatives. This means that more natural substances were involved in their production. This may be easily verified by locating the expiration date. Unopened children’s goods should have an expiration date of between 1 and 1.5 years, while opened products should have an expiration date of no more than 6 months.
Omit UV Protection From Children’s Cosmetics
Adult cosmetics sometimes include UV-blocking ingredients as a “marketing trick”, claiming to provide sun protection. Studies indicate that the presence of sunblock and UV compounds in cosmetics might cause cell deformation and represent a cancer-related risk with prolonged exposure. Always check the back of the product or the directions to ensure that it does not include any UV protection chemicals.
Wrapping It Up
When children are the end-users, adults must carefully pick cosmetic goods. They should not give them cosmetics intended for adults, as it might cause skin issues for the little ones. They must pick cosmetics based on the child’s skin type, age, and health. For children’s sensitive skin, parents must purchase cosmetics designed specifically for children. They must acquire branded and high-quality products so that the child’s skin does not lose its lustre in the long run.
If your child has an interest in dance or theatre and frequently competes in dance or drama contests, then you should get the highest quality cosmetics and grooming supplies for them.


Speaker Seeks Bill Authorizing House of Representatives to Sue President
President Barack Obama recently lost in a handful of cases at the Supreme Court, and he might be facing even more legal challenges if legislation supported by Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner passes. In an opinion piece on CNN.com, Speaker Boehner wrote that the House will consider legislation allowing the Chamber to sue the President if he fails “to follow his oath of office and faithfully execute the laws of our country.” The Speaker wrote that he thinks the President has not enforced the law in several issues, particularly on health care, foreign affairs and energy policy. “The legislative branch has an obligation to defend the rights and responsibilities of the American people, and America’s constitutional balance of powers—before it is too late”, the Speaker writes.
The legislation allowing the House to sue the President is the latest in a series of disputes between the congressional Republicans and the President. Congressional Republicans have repeatedly expressed their concern that President Barack Obama will not enforce laws enacted by Congress. President Obama has likewise repeatedly accused the legislature of being a do-nothing Congress. For instance, last week, he said Congress “insist[s] on taking no action whatsoever that will help anybody” and pledged to act on his own. As if anticipating the Republican response, he joked, “So sue me”, noting that he would not “apologize for trying to do something”. Speaker Boehner derided the President’s line as a “flippant dismissal of the Constitution [they] are both sworn to defend.” It is unlikely that any legislation allowing the House to sue would pass the Senate, let alone survive a Presidential veto.
Congress Returns from Independence Day Break
Congress is returning to DC following its Independence Day break, but there is not much time for action before the midterm elections, which are only a few months away. Since the Senate is up for grabs, Members will have to carefully assess what legislation they may realistically complete for the rest of the year. According to Mike Lillis of
The Hill, a couple of notable items could pass. For instance, the House and Senate are currently working out disagreements on legislation reforming services for veterans, following the Veterans Affairs scandal that broke in the spring. Additionally, Congress will need to provide funding for the government before the end of this fiscal year. They may not finish the spending bills before the elections, in which case they would need to pass continuing resolutions so Congress could complete the legislation afterwards. Other legislation is less likely to pass. Following the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision, which ruled that some businesses need not pay for insurance policies that cover certain contraception conflicting with the owners’ religious beliefs, Senate Democrats have promised to produce legislation providing the same. However, a bill has not yet been introduced. Whatever is produced would face long odds of passage in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
And for our latest post: Using the “Pen and Phone” to Blur the Separation of Powers
And for all our posts: Congressional Institute Blog Archive


The State of Minnesota requires installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) in all vehicles owned by first-time driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenders with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .16 percent or higher. Second-time offenders may either be required to install an IID on all vehicles or lose their driving privileges for one (1) to two (2) years. After two DWI convictions within ten (10) years, individuals must use an IID for three (3) to six (6) years. A fourth conviction results in a felony charge.
When arrested for DWI in Minnesota, drivers face both criminal and administrative repercussions. These repercussions include jail time, fines, and loss of driving privileges. The first time a driver refuses a chemical test when suspected of DWI, the person is charged with a gross misdemeanor, which comes with fines or jail time and a choice of using an IID for a year or using a restricted license for a year, with no driving privileges the first fifteen (15) days.
Any time a driver loses driving privileges due to DWI, to regain them, the person must:
Pass a DWI knowledge test Undergo a chemical health assessment Reapply for a driver’s license, paying regular license fees Pay a $680 license reinstatement fee


Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) under the GDPR
What is a DPIA?
A data protection impact assessment (DPIA) is a process that helps organisations identify and minimise risks that result from data processing. DPIAs are usually undertaken when introducing new data processing processes, systems or technologies.
What is an EU GDPR data protection impact assessment (DPIA)?
Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), data controllers must carry out data protection impact assessments (DPIAs) to “evaluate, in particular, the origin, nature, particularity and severity” of the “risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons” before processing personally identifiable information. The DPIA “should include the measures, safeguards and mechanisms envisaged for mitigating” the identified risks.
When should you conduct a DPIA?
You require a DPIA when data processing is likely to result in a high risk to data subjects.
The GDPR says you must conduct a DPIA if you plan to:
Use systematic and extensive profiling with significant effects;
Process special category or criminal offence data on a large scale; or
Systematically monitor publicly accessible places on a large scale.
Types of processing where a DPIA is likely to be required:
A hospital processing its patients’ genetic and health data on its information system.
The archiving of pseudonymised sensitive data from research projects or clinical trials.
An organisation using an intelligent video analysis system to single out cars and automatically recognise registration plates.
An organisation systematically monitoring its employees’ activities, including their workstations and Internet activity.
The gathering of public social media data for generating profiles.
An institution creating a national-level credit rating or fraud database.
The WP29 (Article 29 Working Party), which has now been replaced by the EDPB (European Data Protection Board), was responsible for issuing guidelines and opinions on aspects of the GDPR. Its guidelines on DPIAs set out the criteria that organisations should consider when determining the risks posed by a processing operation. The more criteria are met, the more likely processing is to present a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals, and therefore to require a DPIA.
Key elements of a successful DPIA
A good DPIA helps you demonstrate that you have considered the risks related to your intended processing and met your broader compliance obligations.
The GDPR does not specify a DPIA process to follow. Instead, it allows organisations to use a framework that complements their existing processes.
Whichever methodology you use, according to the ICO your DPIA must:
“describe the nature, scope, context and purposes of the processing;
assess necessity, proportionality and compliance measures;
identify and assess risks to individuals; and
identify any additional measures to mitigate those risks.”
Who should be involved in conducting a DPIA?
Data controllers are responsible for ensuring the DPIA is carried out. The DPIA should be conducted by those with appropriate expertise and knowledge of the project in question – normally the project team.
Under the GDPR, it is necessary for any organisation with a designated DPO (data protection officer) to seek their advice. This advice and the decisions taken should be documented as a part of the DPIA process.
How IT Governance can help you comply with the EU GDPR
IT Governance, a leading global provider of IT governance, risk management and compliance solutions, is at the forefront of helping organisations address the challenges of EU GDPR compliance.


Intellectual disabilities affect a person’s intellectual functioning, which includes learning, problem-solving, and judgment, and adaptive functioning that can affect a person’s ability to perform activities of daily living, communication, and independence. At CareNest, Inc., we have professionals who are trained in assisting clients who are going through this condition. Since not all individuals affected by intellectual disabilities have the same needs, we assess the level of their disability first before providing them assistance.


Status
In progress
We are reviewing whether we need to refine our regulatory approaches, given the climate change risks and opportunities that now confront regulated entities.
We have published a discussion paper seeking comments on matters including:
the risks and drivers of climate action the effectiveness of existing regulatory frameworks to accommodate and create appropriate incentives to manage climate change risks corporate and regulatory insights on how climate change is managed by other organisations.
We welcome comments from stakeholders in all sectors that we regulate. Please submit comments by
16 December 2022 (extended from 2 December).
We will then produce a draft position paper for stakeholder comment, followed by a final position paper that outlines our views on the above matters.
Regulatory process
An indicative timeframe for key milestones is:
24 October 2022 Discussion paper published 16 December 2022 Stakeholder submissions due March 2023 Draft position paper Second quarter 2023 Stakeholder forum Second quarter 2023 Further submissions due Third quarter 2023 Final position paper


Realistically representing the present-day characteristics of extreme precipitation has been a challenge for global climate models, which is due in part to deficiencies in model resolution and physics, but is also due to a lack of consistency in gridded observations. In this study, we use three observation datasets, including gridded rain gauge and satellite data, to assess historical simulations from sixteen Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) models. We separately evaluate summer and winter precipitation over the United States (US) with a comprehensive set of extreme precipitation indices, including an assessment of precipitation frequency, intensity and spatial structure. The observations exhibit significant differences in their estimates of area-average intensity distributions and spatial patterns of the mean and extremes of precipitation over the US. In general, the CMIP6 multi-model mean performs better than most individual models at capturing daily precipitation distributions and extreme precipitation indices, particularly in comparison to gauge-based data. Also, the representation of the extreme precipitation indices by the CMIP6 models is better in the summer than winter. Although the "standard" horizontal-resolution can vary significantly across CMIP6 models, from ~0.7˚ to ~2.8˚, we find that resolution is not a good indicator of model performance. Overall, our results highlight common biases in CMIP6 models and demonstrate that no single model is consistently the most reliable across all indices.


UNESCO Global Geoparks must be single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education, research and sustainable development.
Geoparks aim to connect Earth heritage with all other aspects of an area’s natural and cultural heritage, to promote awareness of key issues facing society in the context of the dynamic planet we all live on. The geology in a Geopark is linked to sites with interesting geology, history, folklore and culture. Tourism industry promotion in a Geopark focuses on highlighting the geographical character of a place.
Geoparks also inform about the sustainable use and need for natural resources, whether they are mined, quarried or harnessed from the surrounding environment, while at the same time promoting respect for the environment and the integrity of the landscape.
Compared with national or provincial parks which are often government-initiated projects, a Geopark is typically a grassroots, community-driven initiative.
Collaboration among Geoparks is an important component of the Global Geoparks Network. UNESCO encourages international cooperation between Geoparks especially in the fields of education, tourism, sustainable development, protection of fossils and artifacts, and regional planning.
Discovery has applied for designation and we hope to be the first for Newfoundland Labrador.


Parents and residents are invited to an E-Cigarette and Vaping Prevention Program on Wednesday, November 28th at 7:30 p.m. in Massapequa High School’s Little Theater following the monthly Massapequa Jr/Sr PTSA meeting. The program, E-cigs & Vaping: A Danger to Youth, is hosted by the PTSA and Massapequa Takes Action Coalition (MTAC) and will outline why e-cigarettes and vaping are popular with today’s youth and how it presents health issues for their future. The engaging and informative presentation will be led by Pamela Mizzi, MS, LMHC, CASAC 2 with Q & A to follow the presentation.
Research and experts indicate e-cigarettes and vaping products are dangerous for youth. Besides nicotine, e-cigarettes can contain harmful ingredients including: ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs; flavorants such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease; volatile organic compounds; and heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, and lead (US Surgeon General). Between 2011 and 2017, e-cigarette use significantly increased among youth in high school and middle school (Truth Initiative). According to the 2017 National Youth Tobacco Survey, over 1.7 million high school students and 390,000 middle school students currently use e-cigarettes (Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids). Research continues to show that using e-cigarettes increases the likelihood of smoking cigarettes (Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 2018, 1–9).
For more information contact Cathy Samuels, MTAC Coordinator at 516-799-3000 x 131 or email info@mtacoalition.com.
US Surgeon General notes that e -cigarettes use poses a significant – and avoidable – health risk to young people in the United States.


Habituation of the cold shock response, and adaptation in deep body cooling with prolonged cold water immersion is well documented in adults. This study aimed to determine whether children exhibit similar responses. Eight children aged 10-11 years underwent a 5 min static immersion in 15°C (59°F) water, five then swam for up to 40 minutes, before and after a year of regular cold water swim training. Following acclimatization, no differences were found in heart rates or respiratory frequencies on initial immersion, despite a smaller relative VO2. Children reported feeling warmer (p < .01) and more comfortable (p < .05), implying acclimatization of subjective perception of cold. No difference was found in cooling rates while swimming. On comparison with data of adults swimming in 12°C (36°F) water, no difference was found in cooling rates, but the trend in both acclimatized groups to a slower rate of cooling was significant (p < .026) when the data were pooled. These data may support a theory of insulative adaptation.


Q:
Can you tell me what chronic yeast infection is?
A:
Chronic yeast infection is a medical condition that occurs both in men and women. Women are more likely to have the condition. Symptoms in women include: Pain during urinating and sex Feeling of itching and burning in vaginal region Redness and swelling around the vulva Symptoms in men include: Pain during urinating and sex Papules on penis Feeling or itching and burning
Most common treatments for chronic yeast infections include anti-fungal medications. You need to consult a doctor first before taking any medication.
To prevent it from recurring, choose loose cotton underwear and change wet clothes immediately.
Key word: chronic yeast infections


The Senate passed a bill this week containing provisions that update Minnesota drug and DWI laws.
The bill adds several new drugs to the state schedule of controlled substances, which is a ranked classification of drugs’ medicinal use and potential for addiction or abuse. The bill also created a crime for minors to possess or sell kratom, an opioid-like substance that’s sold in health food and herbal medicine stores. Kratom has been the subject of some controversy lately, but is not included on the federal drug schedule.
The bill also expands the definition of “intoxicating substance” in DWI law, following a Supreme Court decision that excluded inhalants, such as DFE (an ingredient in air-compressed dust cleaning products), and the tragic death of three Minnesotans in Wisconsin, after their car was hit head-on by a driver who had been drinking and using inhalants.
Additional measures were added on the floor by amendment. One provision allows people who have DWI convictions to opt in to ignition interlock to avoid forfeiture of their vehicle. The other exempts people with previous DWI convictions from having to re-take a driver’s license exam before having their license is reinstated. Officials from the Department of Public Safety have noted the re-examination is often unnecessary, and is a poor use of resources.
This legislation passed by a vote of 62-4 and will next be considered on the House floor. (SF 2578)


The practice of systematically constructing houses offsite goes back to the 20th century when builders in the US began selling “kit homes.” Despite its history and pressing need, offsite has remained a niche approach. However, the value proposition of offsite construction is strengthening every day, and so are the factors fueling its growth—labor shortages, suitable technology, and increasing government backing. Even though offsite construction is now being adopted for projects as varied as high-end condos, hotels, and airport terminals, the market remains a white space.


To estimate the oxygen consumption rate of arteriolar walls we measured the intra- and perivascular partial oxygen tension (PO
2) of arterioles in rat cremaster muscle, both at resting and vasodilating states by phosphorescence quenching technique. Using measured intra- and perivascular PO 2 values, oxygen consumption rates were determined based on Krogh-Erlang analysis. We found a significant drop in PO 2 in the arterioles after branching. We found that the vascular oxygen consumption rates of functional arterioles were 100-1000 times greater than those seen in in vitro experiments. These results strongly support the hypothesis that arteriolar walls consume a significant amount of oxygen as compared with the surrounding tissue. Furthermore, the reduction of vascular tone of arteriolar walls may facilitate an efficient supply of oxygen to the surrounding tissue.


Trade in counterfeit and pirated products has grown steadily in recent years – even as overall trade volumes have stagnated. They now represent 3.3% of world trade, according to a new report from the OECD and the EU’s Intellectual Property Office in 2019.
According to the latest studies on counterfeit and pirated products, the value of counterfeits imported into the world based on customs seizure data peaked in 2016 at $ 509 billion, compared to $ 461 billion in 2013.
For the European Union, the counterfeit trade represented 6.8% of imports from third countries in 2016, against 5% in 2013. Worse, these figures do not include counterfeits produced and consumed in the country, nor pirated products distributed over the Internet.
To fight against this rapidly growing phenomenon, the luxury sector has invested heavily in ultra-sophisticated technological solutions (Internet of Objects, Big Data, Machine Learning, etc.). He is also lobbying governments to expand the powers of law enforcement agencies to seize and destroy counterfeit products, prosecute buyers and dealers, and block access to websites that sell products. counterfeit.
Despite this, these efforts are not bearing fruit, in particular due to increased competition, the absence of common standards in this sector and of effective laws, proportional to the stakes. Fake luxury goods represent 60 to 70% of the total counterfeit market, ahead of pharmaceuticals and entertainment products as shown in the following diagram (source: OECD – Trends in Trade in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods – March 2019)


Early this year, analysts predicted a slowdown in the $800 billion trucking industry. Unfortunately, things have turned out even worse than originally predicted — 2019 has found the U.S. in the midst of a freight recession, with significant difficulties in the trucking industry.
In 2016, Schneider National acquired two specialty trucking companies to launch their last-mile delivery services. Just three years later, they’re shutting down the project, citing poor performance.


Post pandemic, our perception and usage of space has changed drastically.
Planning parameters and appropriate environments for habitat have gained a lot of importance. As people were confined to their homes, they began to actively appreciate the necessity of having appropriateness across all parameters of habitation, and a yearning for a ‘comfortable’ environment. Architects, planners, and designers have the responsibility to think of ways to express inventiveness in finding appropriate solutions for habitable environments.
The environment at working places has also gone through a major shift. For example, the density of individuals per sq. ft. is prominently focused upon. However, the biggest shift in trends took place through the acceptability of a virtual presence – an unforeseen realm which overturned the pre-conceived notions of configuration and dynamics of office spaces.
It took a global pandemic for us to realize the significance of our own resources.
Since the Vedic period, we have always aimed to achieve a sustainable society. Learning from Vastu principles has been pivotal in achieving a sustainable model. For example, the roots of planning for a tropical country like India demands appropriate orientation of the building, the contextual relevance of courtyards, and how wind and rain directions should act as the guiding factors during the planning stage, amongst other things. A dedicated exercise in accomplishing the right shading, right amount of light, right heat gain, right dissipation of heat, right placement and sizing of openings can help in minimizing the need for artificial interventions in the creation of a conducive environment.
As clichéd as it may sound, over the years, the prevalent Eurocentrism had made us forget these learnings which had earlier informed our architecture. A modest arrival at the basics prescribed in our vernacular architecture may be instrumental in the creation of an ideal built environment, without unnecessary expenses and unsustainable means.
Buildings which have increased their energy load due to unwise designs, are burdened with the baggage of pumping money to make them habitable.
These buildings are the iconic-ized fixed glass boxes with no openings seen across our metropolis. In contrast to what they demand, sustainability and optimization of resources have become crucial in these trying times. The pandemic has reinstated our belief in simplicity, nature, and living as per our requirements. Architects have the immense responsibility to create environments that are suitable to a diverse country like India, and offer solutions that are rooted in the sensitivities and context of our people and their situations.
The ‘reverse-migration’ of workers to their villages also presents an opportunity to tap into the potential that lies in rural environments while simultaneously decreasing the pressure on the urban infrastructure. Rural regions are more viable and less expensive in terms of cost of realty and cost of living. However, villages remain secondary due to the ineffective infrastructure, including physical and internet connectivity.


Knowing the fundamental skills for the company is crucial for a strategic management of its People.
The Assessment Center methodology, which has been extensively studied, enables an objective analysis of competency profiles and provides a solid basis for decision making regarding People (e.g.: Potential Assessment, Selection, Mobility, Development Needs, fit to Function, amongst others).


In August 1913 Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., submitted a report to the Newport Improvement Association, titled Proposed Improvements to Newport. Olmsted, Jr., observed the unique aesthetics and scale of historic Newport, remarking on its charming yet dilapidated historic dwellings, the inconvenience of its crooked narrow streets, and the contrasting ostentation of its oversized mansions.
The younger Olmsted’s report built upon the significant planning previously commenced in this multilayered community by his father and brother. Although the firm of F.L. and J.C. Olmsted had already shaped substantial residential grounds for some of Newport's notables, beginning in the early 1880s, their most important commissions were for development conglomerates, such as the Newport Land Trust and others, adapting vast acreage on Aquidneck Island into residential enclaves. Well-drained roads curving around the boulder-strewn terrain provided access to distinctively designed lots, each shaped to capture scenery of ocean or bay or the rugged windswept moors. Their planning was ever respectful of Newport’s natural assets of distinctive topography, scenic shoreline, and abundant native coastal plantings. Prior to Olmsted, Jr’s involvement Olmsted, Olmsted and Eliot had prepared plans for such public landscapes as The Mall, Morton Park, and Leamington Beach.
The primary focus of Olmsted, Jr.’s, subsequent planning and design recommendations was to enhance the existing setting and characteristics. He emphasized the natural assets of the island’s distant and borrowed views shaped by its topography, leading to targeted design recommendations for Ocean Drive, Cliff Walk, Easton Beach, Wellington Avenue, King Park, and Washington Street. Secondly, recognizing the need to safeguard scenery found throughout the city’s tree-lined streets, estate grounds and villas, public and private gardens, and parks, Olmsted, Jr., recommended building codes and street improvements. He viewed the city as a dynamic cultural landscape—offering a revolutionary, holistic approach to its natural, scenic, and cultural attributes—all while preserving and protecting its unique scale and the individuality of its extant resources (buildings, streetscapes, and landscapes).


Wed 23-09-2020 17:18 PM
DUBAI, 23rd September, 2020 (WAM) -- Investor Relations, IR, is playing a growing role in strengthening the relationship between companies listed on Dubai’s capital markets and investors locally and internationally.
The Dubai Financial Market, DFM, and Nasdaq Dubai, are actively implementing a widespread IR excellence program to promote issuers’ expansion in this field through numerous initiatives.
These include the international investor roadshows organised annually since 2007, developing smart solutions enabling listed companies’ seamless connectivity with investors as well as launching practical guides, organising educational workshops on IR best practices and the IR Graduate Program for Emiratis.
The two exchanges have showcased the successes of their Joint IR excellence program during the Middle East IR Society, MEIRA, 2020 Annual Conference & Awards, concluded in Dubai today.
During a special session on driving stakeholder value, Hassan Al Serkal, CEO of DFM, emphasised IR’s pivotal role in enabling listed companies to present their equity story and attract more investments by providing investors with clear and informative messages on key developments and financials, leading to an upsurge in investors’ interest and subsequently increasing the market value of the companies.
Commenting on DFM’s active participation in the conference, Al Serkal said, "We have always been committed to promoting IR excellence amongst our issuers in cooperation with various stakeholders and regulatory bodies. Our efforts have been instrumental in making an IR mandatory function as part of the implementation of the corporate governance framework. We are also encouraging listed companies’ active response to international institutions’ growing demand for Environmental, Social and Governance, ESG, investing through various initiatives such as the launch of an ESG index as well as the expansion in ESG reporting."
Hamed Ali, CEO of Nasdaq Dubai and Deputy CEO of DFM, said, "Our numerous IR initiatives have successfully promoted IR best practices over the past years and are widely welcomed by listed companies. We are encouraging and supporting issuers to further embrace IR best practices and adopt an open door policy with current or potential investors. These continuing efforts are essential in attracting new investment and reinforcing Dubai’s leading position as a dynamic capital markets hub through enabling companies in the region to leverage Dubai’s multi-platform capital markets."
The session also included a keynote presentation delivered by Fahima Al Bastaki, Executive Vice President, and Head of DFM’s Business Development Division, about regional corporate strategies to generate global exposure through Dubai’s capital markets.


A power surge is a sudden spike in voltage that could have a negative impact on electrical appliances and devices plugged into outlets or extension cords. Power surges are common but don’t have to cause worry if you have a surge protector.
Most home electrical systems operate at 120 volts, with an alternating electrical current that rises and falls between 0 volts and 169 volts. Electrical appliances and devices are built to withstand up to 169 volts, but anything greater can cause an arc of electrical current that could create heat and damage electronic components and circuit boards. Even a small power surge will gradually shorten the life of electrical appliances.
Causes of Power Surges
A power surge can occur when electronic devices with motors and compressors are turned on or off, interrupting the flow of electricity to other appliances. This may often occur with hair dryers, space heaters, power tools, and large appliances.
An outdated electrical system and faulty wiring is unstable and more likely to cause power surges. Older homes are at increased risk.
Lightning strikes are a common cause of power surges that could instantly ruin plugged in electrical devices. The electricity from lightning strikes could enter through a satellite dish cable or electrical service lines.
Fallen tree branches, car accidents, and wildlife that take down or interfere with power lines can cause power outages. Once the power is restored, the excess electricity can cause a power surge.
Purchase and install a surge protector.
A whole-house surge protector is designed to shut off power during a power surge and redirect the excess current to the underground wire. This protects devices and eliminates the risk of damage.
Unplug devices during a storm.
If there’s a lightning storm in your area, simply unplug electrical devices to eliminate the risk of damage from a power surge.
Schedule an electrical wiring inspection.
Look for signs of faulty wiring, such as buzzing sounds coming from the outlets, constantly tripping circuit breakers, and visible burn marks or smells coming from outlets. Damaged wiring will offer little resistance to a power surge and potentially transfer the energy to plugged in devices.
If you have any questions about selecting or installing a whole-house surge protector, give us a call!


Affordability challenges more acute; talent remains concern for business
While 65.1 per cent of businesses are optimistic about their economic future, Calgary businesses continue to face several headwinds, with affordability and inflation becoming increasingly concerning over the past three months, according to the Q3 Canadian Survey on Business Conditions. The survey was conducted by Statistics Canada in collaboration with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
City budget on right track; needs further focus on talent and ease of doing business
City administration previewed its 2023-2026 Service Plans and Budget, providing a behind-the-curtain look at what may be coming down the pipe later this year. Noting household expenditures have increased 7.4% for the average Albertan this year, Administration is focused on maintaining affordability, while continuing to invest in Calgary’s future, including an additional $4.4 billion in capital projects.
Canada is an adventure tourist's dream. With a diversity of activities ranging from cycling, rock climbing, and hiking in the summer, to skiing, snowshoeing, and dog sledding in the winter, Canada is primed to take advantage of a thriving sector that promotes sustainability as well as physical and mental health.
Deborah Yedlin shares highlights of the Chamber's work to connect and amplify businesses, and advocate for solutions to expedite recovery. She also offers a preview of key transformations underway to deliver even more value for Chamber members.
By initiating conversations and furthering our education within our organization, we seek a better understanding, and recognition of meaningful acts of reconciliation as we serve Calgary's business community.
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a worldwide mental health crisis. It is affecting each one of us, whether we know it or not. Learn more about how you can foster a positive workplace and support employee mental health.


Title:
Seen but seldom heard : the healthcare experiences and needs of migrant women affected by domestic violence and abuse
Background: Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is a significant health burden and often concealed in healthcare. Migrant women face specific barriers to access and within healthcare. This PhD sought to identify the healthcare experiences, support pathways and needs of migrant women affected by DVA. Methods: A systematic review and qualitative synthesis of 27 publications were conducted, using elements of a meta-ethnography synthesis approach. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with migrant women (n=8) and various professionals (n=12). 19 interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using the constant comparative method. Findings: Both the synthesis and the interviews identified constrained help-seeking and help-receiving experiences due to lack of access and knowledge, immigration status and language barriers, as well as fear of consequences and potentially harmful responses, including breach of confidentiality. DVA severity and its impact on the health of women and children triggered disclosure, another condition for disclosure was trust. Person-centred care was perceived positively or desired, whether this may reflect a universal need or additionally requires cultural understanding is unclear. There is a need for adequate language provision and to improve access to mental health care. Additional training for healthcare professionals is crucial to improve their understanding of migrant women affected by DVA to facilitate appropriate help. Conclusion: Research on migrant women and the role of healthcare professionals in their care has so far been sparse. This is the first qualitative synthesis on the healthcare experiences and needs of migrant women with DVA. This PhD begins to address this gap in research by developing novel ideas on possibly appropriate interventions and the potential role of healthcare services in DVA. This is highly important for both healthcare and policy.


Here is a list of all of our cognitive case studies that can be used to see how you can apply the concepts of systems thinking to real-world wicked problems.
1. Cats, Rats, and Roofs: The Perils of Ignoring Relationships: this case explores the importance of understanding the interrelationship of parts of complex systems by discussing the true story behind the “Borneo Cat-Drop” tale.
2. GasMarts, Umbilical Cords, and Eco Bridges: Deconstructing Relationships to Understand Complex Systems: this case explains how recognizing relationships and identifying their parts—called a Relationship Distinction System (RDS)—can facilitate a deeper understanding of phenomena both simple and complex. We also explore the RDS as a tool for business and scientific innovation.
3. No Word is an Island: Distinguishing “Nerd” and“Geek”: this case explores the distinction between the terms “nerd” and “geek” in qualitative and quantitative terms. In the same way that all terminology (text) is conceptually distinguished from other similar terminology (context), an exploration of the nerd-geek distinction explicates the structure of distinction making.
4. Regulating the Restroom: The Clash of Distinctions and Perspectives: this case explores the distinctions made and perspectives taken with respect to the growing national debate around gender identification and bathroom choice.
5. Splitters, Lumpers, and Framers: Seeing Perspective in Categorization: this case critically examines classificatory phenomena such as categories, taxonomies, pyramids, directories, and hierarchies. Although ubiquitous and admittedly useful for reducing the cognitive burden of dealing with large amounts of information, categories and the like must be used carefully, recognizing that they are merely part-whole groupings made from a particular perspective or perspectives. “Splitters, Lumpers, and Framers” walks through several examples of classificatory schemes gone wrong and details the negative consequences (intellectual, political, social, psychological, etc.) of their use.
6. Words Matter: Mental Models and Mass Killings: this case explores the distinctions made, relationships and systems identified, and perspectives taken in popular and academic discourse with respect to the increase of mass killings in the United States.
7. Reality Bias: The Mother of All Cognitive Biases: this case explores reality bias, the role of metacognition in reducing it, and the foundational role of reality bias in creating all other cognitive biases.


Business News Asia
The Japanese government raised its forecast for gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter, stating that GDP shrank by 0.5% year-on-year. Consumer spending continues to recover, even as Japan faces a new round of the COVID-19 outbreak.
On a quarterly basis, Japan’s Q1 GDP contracted 0.1%, better than preliminary estimates of a 0.2% contraction.
Investors are still watching whether the slump in the yen will affect the Japanese economy as a whole. The yen has fallen to its lowest level against the dollar in 20 years. This is due to the forecast that the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) will accelerate its rate hikes to curb inflation. This is in contrast to the Bank of Japan (BOJ), which continues to pursue a policy of monetary easing that has widened the interest rate differential between the U.S. and Japan.


9 March 2022
Prof. Emma Marsden, NCELP Director, presented the following Keynote Address: ‘Defining the Language Content for Assessment and its effects on Curriculum Design’ at the Institute of Government and Public Policy on 9th March 2022
Defining and Assessing the Language Content: Effects on Curriculum Design Identifying the language that can be included in assessments (such as the GCSE) may seem to some like a secondary activity, relative to the ‘real purpose’ of teaching a language: to engage and motivate learners with new cultures and genuine communication.
This presentation aims to show how defining language content is critical not only for designing curriculum and assessments, but also for instilling a sense of progression and achievement


Point-of-Use Platforms
Point-of-use platforms seek to bring bioanalytical assays to the individual, thus enhancing the speed with which results are available to caregivers and empowering individuals to exert more control over their own health and wellness. Key challenges include: (a) adapting state-of-the-art bioassays, such as nucleic acid amplification and detection, microfluidic device design, and digital fluidics methods, so that they yield timely, point-of-use diagnoses, and (b) creating smart systems that can translate laboratory innovations into technically effective devices engineered to survive operation in the field. Additional hurdles to implementation may be posed by differing legal, regulatory, political, and social constraints imposed in the local environment.
Theme Leader: Marya Lieberman


Rationale: Whether high blood eosinophils are associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations among individuals with COPD in the general population is largely unknown. Objectives: To test the hypothesis that high blood eosinophils predict COPD exacerbations. Methods: Among 81,668 individuals in the Copenhagen General Population Study, we examined 7,225 with COPD based on spirometry. We recorded blood eosinophils at baseline and future COPD exacerbations longitudinally, defined as moderate (short-course treatment with systemic corticosteroids) or severe (hospitalization). We also assessed exacerbation risk in a subgroup of 203 individuals with clinical COPD, defined as participants with a smoking history of at least 10 pack-years, FEV1 less than 70% of predicted value, and at least one moderate or severe exacerbation in the year before baseline. Measurements and main results: During a median of 3.3 years of follow-up (range, 0.03-8.1), 1,439 severe and 2,864 moderate COPD exacerbations were recorded. Among all participants with COPD, blood eosinophils above versus below 0.34 × 10(9) cells per liter had multivariable-adjusted incidence rate ratios of 1.76 (95% confidence interval, 1.56-1.99) for severe exacerbations and 1.15 (1.05-1.27) for moderate exacerbations. Corresponding values in those with clinical COPD were 3.21 (2.49-4.14) and 1.69 (1.40-2.04). In contrast, using a cutpoint of 2% for blood eosinophils, the risk of exacerbations was increased for severe exacerbations only among individuals with clinical COPD and not in individuals in the broader population. Conclusions: Among individuals with COPD in the general population, increased blood eosinophil levels above 0.34 × 10(9) cells per liter were associated with a 1.76-fold increased risk of severe exacerbations. Keywords: epidemiology; granulocytes; lung disease; prospective study.


Abstract
The backstage context of the police canteen has been identified as an important setting for officers to collectively give meaning to police work. This context is therefore of value to officers, police organizations, and their management. This article explores police storytelling during canteen breaks and the way frontline managers might position themselves during them. The empirical research at four police stations shows the differences and similarities across them. Break frequency and participation differ and storytelling very often focuses on work. Similar topics, interactional content, and dynamics were encountered at the stations. Finally, the four positions managers might occupy are presented and discussed: joining in, strict management, learning during breaks, and steering meaning.


Abstract
The A-to-V mutation at position 111 (A111V) in the mechanosensitive channel NCgl1221 (MscCG) causes constitutive glutamate secretion in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Patch clamp experiments revealed that NCgl1221 (A111V) had a significantly smaller gating threshold than the wild-type counterpart and displayed strong hysteresis, suggesting that the gain-of-function mutation in the gating of NCgl1221 leads to the oversecretion of glutamate.
ASJC Scopus subject areas Biotechnology Food Science Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Ecology


COVID-19 Vaccination and Uveitis Relapse
November 10, 2022
Uveitis is a vision-threatening inflammation of the eye associated with multiple autoimmune diseases. Several studies have suggested that COVID-19 vaccination can lead to the relapse of uveitis. However, this event is sporadic (0.9 cases per million vaccine doses). Recently, scientists studied factors influencing the risk of uveitis relapse in patients with a history of uveitis (1).
The study included 438 participants with a history of uveitis who received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine but had no history of previous COVID-19 infection. Since the study was conducted in China, participants received one of the vaccines available in China at the time (Sinovac, Sinopharm, CanSino, and Zhifei). Uveitis relapse occurred in 34 of the participants within 15 days post-vaccination.
Analysis of the study group revealed that there was
no increased risk of uveitis between the four vaccines. However, if study participants received glucocorticoids at the time of vaccination, the risk of uveitis decreased.
The mechanism behind post-vaccination flares is not properly understood, but it seems to be linked to a hyperactive immune system or inflammatory processes. Authors of this study suggest that the use of corticosteroids may help with the hyperactivity of the immune system following the COVID-19 vaccine. They highlight other studies showing that post-vaccination uveitis responds well to corticosteroid therapy.
Authors cite earlier studies pointing to glucocorticoid use increasing the risk of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death in patients with a history of uveitis. However, those studies were conducted in 2020 when vaccines were not available. Authors state that uveitis patients would benefit from further studies analyzing the risks and benefits of using glucocorticoids at the time of vaccination. Additional studies are also needed to see if the relapse events occur when different COVID-19 vaccines are used and to establish causation that vaccination is responsible for uveitis relapse.


What to Do When Bipolar’s Risky Behaviors Take Hold
Impulsivity arises during and between bipolar mood episodes—and it can fuel symptomatic behaviors with real risks and consequences. Here are some preventive strategies to consider. Bipolar & Impulsivity Everyone succumbs to rash decisions and reactive behavior from time to time. However, bipolar disorder entails a tendency to grapple with impulsivity on a regular basis. And...READ MORE


Dive Brief: Foot Locker has appointed Himanshu Parikh SVP and CIO, the company announced Monday. He started Tuesday, reporting directly to Richard Johnson, CEO and chairman. Parikh comes to the athletics retailer following a nearly six-year stint at Michaels, where he most recently served as SVP and CTO. At Michaels, Parikh oversaw the company's digital transformation and the expansion of its omnichannel commerce. Prior, he spent a decade leading IT at Ross Stores. In his new role, Parikh will oversee the execution of Foot Locker's strategic technology agenda, according to the announcement. Dive Insight:
This year, the retail industry turned toward technology to weather change. Businesses that stood a chance had upgraded stacks that allowed them to serve customers wherever — and however — they chose.
For Foot Locker, the trend means Parikh will need to prioritize technologies that support omnichannel strategies as consumers seek more flexibility and buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS) options.
Parikh will work closely with the Foot Locker's senior executive team to streamline internal processes, assessing and implementing systems and tools across the organization, according to the announcement.
The appointment of the former Michaels exec comes as the retailer saw its comparable store sales increase by 7.7% in the third quarter of 2020. The company restructured its leadership team in July in a push to "foster greater agility and speed-to-act," according to CEO Johnson. As part of the move, Foot Locker elevated executives Andy Gray, Frank Bracken and Scott Martin to serve more senior roles within the organization.
Supporting the technologies that back e-commerce is a priority across the retailer industry, with eight in every 10 consumers signaling they'll be shopping more online this holiday season than last year. In the third quarter of 2020, Foot Locker's digital business grew by more than 50%, according to Johnson, speaking during the company's earnings call.
"We are frequently asked how sustainable these digital trends are," Johnson said. "What I will tell you is that while we expect the penetration level to moderate, we don't expect to go back to pre-COVID[-19] percentages."
In the third quarter, the company dedicated resources to adding BOPIS capabilities to its native apps, and established dedicated customer pickup areas in 700 stores.


New Haven Divorce Lawyer Dedicated Divorce Lawyers in New Haven, Connecticut
Though similar, collaborative law is fundamentally a different dispute resolution practice than litigation. A professional mediator is a third-party neutral who works with both spouses. A New Haven divorce lawyer is an advocate for their client. Their primary duty is to focus on their client’s interests and goals throughout the process. The other party will hire their own collaborative divorce attorney, similarly focused on their interests and goals. Nevertheless, both attorneys must commit to a balanced resolution for the family as they separate.
Why Should You Hire A Collaborative Divorce Attorney?
Attorneys who decide to complete collaborative training and support collaborative practice are the best holistically effective choice for several reasons.
Peaceful Resolution
A New Haven divorce lawyer will be committed to achieving balanced and reasonable resolutions. Their approach towards your divorce will be centered on the goal of peaceful separation, where both parties’ best interests are catered to and satisfied.
The primary feature of a professional collaborative attorney is that they are confident in their commitment to finding a settlement outside the court. They won’t continue to represent their client if the collaborative divorce process fails and the case goes to court.
Family-Focused Solutions
When you have children, your legal support should be sensitive, delicate, and responsive to your child’s best interest. A collaborative divorce attorney recognizes that promoting and preserving a healthy relationship between parents is critical to fostering effective co-parenting later in life.
Help Find Creative Solutions
The legal system is full of bureaucratic scripts for managing all divorce cases. This brutal and clinical approach is inconsistent with the sensitive nature of separation and may work against your desired outcome, that is, to maintain peace and minimize conflict.
A New Haven divorce lawyer will be able – and willing – to look outside the box for solutions that meet both parties’ individual needs and wants, even when they are beyond a judge’s capacity to manage. This approach generally requires looking at the case from all angles possible to determine an ideal way to achieve separation. Compassionate Support
A divorce is never easy. A divorce’s psychological and emotional impacts are often fierce and almost always deeply personal. A professional collaborative divorce attorney is also a human being. They have compassion and deep empathy for the messy range of emotions that divorce often evokes. They will have resources to inspire a forward momentum to achieve
a healthy resolution, including collaboratively trained family professionals. This form of approach is essentially non-existent in court. Individualized Council
Every divorce case is unique, so the legal scripts used to handle a separation are not just insensitive but also entirely ineffective. A collaborative divorce case demands respect for all the challenges both parties face as they go through a divorce. A New Haven divorce lawyer will help clients achieve their goals rather than defaulting to a stringent legal model.
Looking For Legal Help? Contact CT Mediation Center Today!
As professional collaborative divorce attorneys in New Haven, the team from CT Mediation Centre is deeply committed to advising, supporting, and respecting individuals going through a separation. Call us immediately if you want to learn more about whether a collaborative divorce is the most effective approach to handling your separation. You can reach our team at 860-986-1141.


Are you Safe
In the heart of every person there is a desire to be safe and secure. Little children are often afraid of being left alone. They also may fear the dark, or the unknown. Children crave the security of being held in the loving embrace of their parents. There they feel confident and protected. As we mature, the desire to be safe and secure never leaves us. This inborn desire was given to us by our Creator. While some men act fearless, in their hearts they may fear the unknown, suffering, accident, or sickness. They may also have an uneasy feeling about what might happen to them after death.
God is the creator of heaven and earth. Making man was the crowning act of His creation. He placed Adam and his wife Eve in a paradise home called the Garden of Eden. They were secure, happy, and free. Then Satan appeared in the form of a serpent and deceived them. Because of their disobedience to God, they fell out of fellowship with Him and were driven from Eden. (Genesis 3)
What a drastic change! Before, Adam and Eve had been safe and without fear. They were at peace with their Creator, enjoying His presence. Now, instead of inner peace, there was unrest, guilt, and fear. They were even afraid of God and hid from Him! They had experienced spiritual………… you can get access to the full reading by downloading the pdf HERE


Forbes magazine recently published a compelling article,
3 Ways The Skills Gap Offers Opportunity, about the state and evolution of the workforce for skilled workers. The article aims to dispel the myth that a four-year degree is the optimal path to a prosperous future, reminding readers, for example that, “today around 13 million Americans, many with college degrees, are unemployed, and that does not include those who are underemployed or have given up trying to find work. Yet, nearly five million jobs remain unfilled. Jobs in advanced manufacturing, electrical trades, jobs in healthcare and cyber-security to name just a few.”
The economy needs more skilled workers, who gain mastery through hands-on work and via vocational and technical training. The article further points out how the path of vocational and technical training might best be navigated, and how that path helps people avoid the often immense debt associated with a four-year college degree, while also providing “real world,” industry recognized skills in a hands-on context.
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You have questions about STEM education? You're not alone! We're here to share ideas and provide thought-provoking commentary. Let us know your thoughts!
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Colak, F.Zehra. (2021). “Homegrown Hate – Why White Nationalists and Militant Islamists are Waging War Against the United States by Sara Kamali.”
ECPS Book Reviews. European Center for Populism Studies (ECPS). August 19, 2021. https://doi.org/10.55271/br0003 Dr. Sara Kamali’s book illustrates why strategies to countering extremism are not effective and how they lead to the surveillance of entire Muslim communities, uncovering the complex ways such measures and policies reinforce the injustice and oppression of minority groups.
In her timely book
Homegrown Hate ( University of California Press, 272 pg.), Sara Kamali scrutinizes the identity of White nationalists and militant Islamists, examines their grievances, hatreds, and the acts of terrorism, and lastly asks how these threats can be addressed. Drawing on in-depth interviews with key figures, as well as other primary and secondary source documents, Kamali shows how, despite differences in their motivations and goals, both White nationalists and militant Islamists share a narrative of victimhood, a shattered sense of belonging and alienation, and a perception of self-righteousness while instrumentalizing their theologies to express their disenfranchisement through violence. Homegrown Hate is a book of four parts. The first focuses on the beliefs, worldviews and ideologies of White nationalists and militant Islamists, offering a rich outline of their historical backgrounds, organizational structures, and shared methods. Kamali details how The Fourteen Words serves as a mission statement for all White nationalists, defining their supremacist beliefs and honing their identities and political aims while perpetuating the need for militancy to prevent the so-called racial annihilation of Whites by people of colour. The book offers an insightful glimpse into the complex and overlapping stories, anti-government sentiments, and strongly interwoven affiliations of White militant nationalists as well as the most impactful ideologies shaping White nationalist discourse, including Christian Identity, Creativity, and Wotanism. The book then offers a comprehensive overview of the political strategies and the complex and intersecting connections and theologies of prominent militant Islamist organizations, including al-Qa’ida and Islamic State (Dã’ish), which share a political desire to establish a global caliphate. Key terminology and concepts (e.g., jãhiliyya) exploited by militant Islamists to determine who is deserving of loyalty and disavowal and to justify their war as God’s command are well described.
In the book’s second part, Kamali investigates White nationalist and militant Islamist grievances against the United States. The notion of
White genocide is endorsed by the former to justify a narrative of victimhood and displacement and to support a call for a racial holy war, RAHOWA. The chapter sheds light on the role of demographic changes, economic shifts, and gun rights in understanding the grievances of White nationalists and delves further into how antisemitism, antiglobalism, Islamophobia, misogyny, and Queerphobia manifest and intersect within the White nationalist discourse. Interestingly, the role of women in upholding the norms of White nationalism is not sufficiently explored, although women have been key figures in designing a White supremacist system and promoting far-right groups like QAnon.
In her analysis of the layered grievances of militant Islamists, Kamali shows how such narratives are rooted in a specific interpretation of Islam, US foreign policy, the Crusades, and colonialism to justify the need for self-preservation, defence against oppression, and the establishment of a global caliphate. Kamali addresses how the rhetoric adopted by many American presidents has contributed to the image of the US as a “Crusader” in alliance with Zionists, fuelling militant Islamist propaganda. Such propaganda claims that the US and its pro-Zionist allies aim to eradicate Islam and dominate Muslim-majority nations. The book acknowledges that while some of the grievances of militant Islamists regarding American foreign policy could be legitimate, their adopted methods to address such injustices are undemocratic.
The third part of the book explores the legitimization of holy wars (e.g.,
RAHOWA and jihad) by White nationalists and militant Islamists who distort interpretations of traditional scriptures and theological concepts to fulfil their political ambitions. Kamali illustrates how White nationalists consider racial war essential to stopping White genocide and to establishing a White ethnostate in line with the aims of Fourteen Words. In the same vein, militant Islamists portray the West as a threat to Islam and propose holy war against all who they perceive as non-Muslim to establish a global caliphate. While many White nationalists imagine a White and Christian America inspired by the Founding Fathers’ divine vision and the sacred US constitution, militant Islamists envision a future where the US is part of a global caliphate.
Kamali also illuminates how both movements utilize apocalyptic and violent eschatological visions to justify their terrorism. These grand narratives about the End Times, Kamali argues, offer a sense of belonging and meaning to members of both groups, who believe they play a central role in establishing God’s kingdom through fighting against evil. She explains the role of the internet in bolstering such narratives legitimizing violence and amplifying the voices of militant Islamists and White nationalists. Social media platforms, for instance, are often used to recruit followers and cultivate a sense of community feeding off a narrative of victimhood and hatred towards the “Other.” Questioning the myth of the “lone wolf,” the book highlights the key role of (virtual) communities, transnational ideological connections, and complex psychosocial and political dynamics in explaining the violent actions of an individual.
In the conclusion, Kamali proposes a new approach to counterterrorism by critiquing the current counter-terrorism strategies as bolstering Islamophobia and failing to recognize White nationalism as a legitimate security threat. The framework, named
holistic justice, is founded on principles of anti-oppression and empathy and aims at rectifying the systemic inequities (e.g., structural Islamophobia, institutionalized White privilege) underlying the current counterterrorism approaches. This approach, Kamali explains, holds White liberals accountable for using their privilege to enact institutional change and calls on Muslim Americans to organize at a grassroots level and build solidarity with minority groups. While Kamali’s holistic justice framework aims at rectifying systemic inequities, the role of empathy in bringing about structural change is not sufficiently explored. Although intergroup empathy might contribute to the formation of critical consciousness, encouraging individuals to reflect on their histories and privileges, it is not clear whether empathy is seen as a pre-condition for mobilizing for systemic change or an outcome of anti-oppression work.
The book illustrates why strategies to countering extremism are not effective and how they lead to the surveillance of entire Muslim communities, uncovering the complex ways such measures and policies reinforce the injustice and oppression of minority groups. The lack of a federal statute criminalizing domestic terrorism, for instance, works to the benefit of militant White nationalists who cannot be prosecuted as terrorists on a national level unlike militant Islamists. Although racial disparities and injustices targeting people of colour are recognized in the book, the question of how systemic racism impacts the psychosocial circumstances of already vulnerable people who are driven to militancy remains insufficiently addressed.
Overall,
Homegrown Hate is a valuable up-to-date resource not only for scholars and policymakers but for anyone who is looking to gain an in-depth understanding of current security threats and political violence facing the United States and many other countries around the world. The range and breadth of the complex layers of White nationalism and militant Islamism scrutinized are beyond comparison. The book is a significant contribution to the field—deeply informative and written in an engaging manner.


Cows send out signals continuously about their health, well-being, nutrition, and production. The challenge for the dairy farmer is how to interpret these signals and use them. Dutch vet and cow enthusiast Jan Hulsen has drawn ...More
We offer a more up to date version Pig Signals - Edition 2022.Pigs are constantly giving out signals about their health, well-being, and performance. The art is to perceive these signals and to use them to monitor and i...More


There is no controlling the markets, so focus on what can be controlled, which is how much to save. If an employer offers a company match, investors should consider taking full advantage of this “free money.” Both the employee contribution and employer match grow tax deferred and compound over time to create a larger nest egg.


As oil and gas developments go deeper, the risk related to lifting operations is increasing. “Existing standards and regulations don’t sufficiently meet this challenge and this is why DNV now has initiated a joint industry project to ensure a unified safety approach. Fourteen key international offshore players have joined the project,” says Robert A. Oftedal, DNV’s Business Development Leader, Cranes & Lifting.
The development of subsea cranes and lifting appliances has been driven by constant demand for increased lifting capacity, operations in greater water depths and motion compensating systems. This has introduced several technological challenges related to ensuring the reliable execution of subsea lifting operations so that objects can be safely placed on and removed from the seabed.
Ensuring proper design and correct operation, as well as regular inspection and maintenance, is crucial for not only the reliability of a lifting appliance, but also the safety of the personnel…
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Dr Yuan Guo
Introduction
Receptors embedded in cell membranes are responsible for cell communication with the outside environment. These receptors interact specifically with their extracellular target ligands and translate such binding signals across the membrane to modulate cellular functions. For many receptors, such extracellular binding events do not induce conformational changes, instead multiple receptors are engaged in binding to multiple ligands found on cell or pathogen surfaces, resulting in receptor cluster formation as a means to generate signals. However, this signalling process is often exploited by pathogens and cancer cells to manipulate immune cell functions to evade immune surveillance.
A key outstanding question is how such external specific ligand binding information is translated into a specific intracellular signal. Our research aims to dissect such specific ligand recognition and signal translation mechanisms so as to provide new insights into the design of specific immune activation or inhibitory ligands for therapeutic purposes. Specifically, we are focusing on a group of calcium dependent glycan binding receptors (also known as C-type lectins) found on immune cell surfaces.
Current major projects Reveal general rules governing multivalent lectin-glycan binding affinity and specificity enhancement Elucidate how multivalent glycan-lectin binding manipulates dendritic cell (DC) immune function. Exploit glycan-nanoparticles for potential therapeutic treatments of allergy and autoimmune diseases. Detailed research programme Mechanism of specific, high affinity multivalent lectin-glycan interactions
Immune cell surface lectins often form oligomers to cluster their carbohydrate-binding-domains (CRDs) to enhance binding affinity and specificity toward targeting multivalent glycans. This allows them to discriminate between self- and foreign- structures and to trigger pathogen specific immune response.
To understand the specific high affinity recognition, we use two tetrameric lectins: a DC surface receptor DC-SIGN and its closely-related endothelia cell receptor DC-SIGNR as model receptors. We have developed new glycan-nanoparticle based approaches and differentiated their different CRD arrangement and multivalent viral glycan selectivity. Combining carbohydrate synthesis, molecular biology, protein biochemistry and biophysical studies, we are further revealing the thermodynamic and kinetic insights into their multivalent binding affinity enhancement. These understandings will guide potent, high specific lectin targeting glycan-nanoparticles development.
Mechanisms of multivalent glycan-lectin binding regulating DC immune function
DC-SIGN and other lectins (e.g. mannose receptor) are exploited by some virus, bacteria and cancer cells via their surface specific glycan coatings to evade immune surveillance, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. To address this problem, we are developing polyvalent glycan nanoparticles of similar size and glycan coatings as virus particles to mimic virus-DC interactions. We are exploiting the nanoparticles’ unique fluorescence and high density properties to reveal binding induced DC surface lectin clustering details, identify the intracellular proteins responsible for signalling and track internalized nanoparticle intracellular routing. Together with the measurement of binding stimulated DC cytokine production, surface co-stimulatory molecules expression and antigen presentation, we aim to reveal the whole picture how glycan-lection stimulation controls DC immune function.
Glycan-nanoparticles for potential therapeutic applications
Together with our clinical collaborators, we are investigating how our glycan-nanoparticles showing strong inhibitory effect on DC immune activation can be harnessed for potential therapeutic treatment against allergy and chronic auto-immune diseases. We are studying how glycan-nanoparticle treatments inhibit DC inflammatory cytokine production, affect allergen presentation for stimulation of T cell responses using clinical samples, paving way to the development of novel glycan-based therapeutic interventions against such chronic immune diseases incurable by current medicines.


Pipeline Pigging Safety Efficiency And Quality
Pigging is a concept in pipeline maintenance that involves the use of devices known as pigs, which clean pipelines and are capable of checking pipeline condition. This process is done without necessarily interfering with the flow of product in the pipe. he primary purpose of pigging is to make sure that the pipe is clean and free from obstruction. The process is used to remove and possibly detect any build-ups within the pipe which can often lead to reduced performance, increased energy costs and cause corrosion which could lead to disastrous leaks and cracks in the pipe.
But how does pigging work? Here is a simple explanation: The pigs are the maintenance devices that are used to clean and check if the pipes are in good condition and are inserted into the pipe using a pig trap. The pig trap or launcher is usually oversize to accommodate the tight fitting pig. A similar pig trap or receiver is located at the end of the pipe to retrieve the pig. The pig is propelled through the pipeline: by the normal flow of existing product or can be driven by gas or liquid introduced specifically for that purpose. Pigs are usually cylindrical or spherical to aid movement and efficient cleaning.


Among the most contentious and debated statistics are those for crime rates in the United States. When reviewed on their own, they reveal a troubling reality: people of color, particularly Black people, are far more likely than white people to be arrested and convicted of crimes. That reality, which few people dispute, invites biased interpretation and is frequently the basis for white supremacist talking points.


DUTCH Hormone Test
The DUTCH test (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) offers the most extensive profile of sex and adrenal hormones along with their metabolites. Additionally, the daily (diurnal) pattern of free cortisol is included, along with melatonin (6-OHMS), 8-OHdG, and six organic acids.
This unique combination of clinical information is not
available by any other method.
Patients collect just four or five dried urine samples over a 24-hour period. Dried samples are stable for several weeks making them convenient to ship worldwide.
DUTCH testing was designed to be optimally effective for most forms of hormone replacement therapy. Unique methods are used for improved monitoring of oral progesterone and vaginal hormones.
Here’s a list of the most commonly asked questions regarding the lab test kit:
Simply collect the sample as instructed the following day. All samples do not need to be collected in one 24-hour period.
No, they can be collected in a different order. If you wish you may start with sample #3, followed by #4, #1 & #2. If you begin with #3, collect the extra sample if you wake and urinate in the night.
Simply drink some fluids and go as soon as you are able.


The production of feature films, television series, and commercials can generate significant economic activity for their host communities, drawing out-of-town spending, generating jobs, and supporting local businesses. Because of this potential boost to local economies, many states provide incentives to attract productions as an economic development initiative. In 2020, the Montana Film Office retained ESI […]Read More


One patient’s persistent atrial fibrillation required two specialized heart procedures 14 months apart.
Cardiovascular: Diagnostics & Procedures
An expert weighs in on what to avoid to prevent an atrial fibrillation episode.
Certain patients with atrial fibrillation may be able to toss their blood thinners away, thanks to two devices designed to preve
The novel procedure allows patients to have their valve replaced with a larger prosthetic, which significantly improves blood fl
Lakeitha Perry was sent home from her local hospital with no options for treating her pulmonary hypertension, but innovative tre


Among the many significant parts of the Affordable Care Act, one of the most important for consumers is the requirement that health insurers cover preventive-care services at no cost to patients. That provision is facing a significant legal challenge in a Texas court that could take months or years to resolve, according to legal experts.


Manufacturing
Globalization has led to significant changes in supply chain management in the 21st Century. Leading businesses across almost every industry are realizing the gains to be made in both customer service and profitability through the effective development of more sophisticated and integrated supply chains. World-class organizations understand the competitive advantage derived through more innovative sourcing and procurement. For one thing, it minimizes risk. And it maximizes shareholder value.
At Diversified Search, we use a collaborative approach to supply chain searches, providing a search project team equipped with both functional and industry experience to address a client’s technical, business, and cultural requirements. We have successfully placed supply chain executives who have excelled at managing complex networks, navigating global suppliers and partners, volatile commodity and energy prices, natural disasters, and fluctuating currency markets.
Our growth and success reflect our clients’ increasing recognition of the benefits of professional supply chain management—and our ability to provide the executives who deliver those benefits. Our team is comprised of internationally-experienced functional practitioners who have a thorough understanding of the nuances of supply chain management, along with a strong network of relevant contacts and sources. We know high-profile senior supply chain and procurement leaders; we also know the rising stars who have the potential to progress to senior management and board-level roles.
In a supply-and-demand world, we supply leaders.


The grape starts its annual growth cycle in the spring with bud break. In the Northern Hemisphere, this stage begins around March (late April/early May in Norther Nevada) while in the Southern Hemisphere it begins around September when daily temperatures begin to average 50 °F. If the vine had been pruned during the winter, the start of this cycle is signaled by a “bleeding” of the vine. This bleeding occurs when the soil begins to warm and osmotic forces pushes water, containing a low concentration of organic acids, hormones, minerals and sugars, up from the root system of the vine and it is expelled from the cuts (or “wounds”) left over from pruning the vine. During this period a single vine can “bleed” up to 1.3 US gal.


The research identified grown digital transformation efforts as enabling banks to function effectively during the coronacrisis
According to Juniper Research, 53% of the world’s population will access digital banking services in 2026. The figures are likely to reach over 4.2 billion digital banking users, up from 2.5 billion in 2021.
In fact, China is expected to be the largest digital banking market over the next 5 years, accounting for almost 25% of digital banking users in 2026.
Juniper Research’s Digital Transformation in Banking Readiness Index analysed 30 leading Tier 1 banks in order to evaluate their digital transformation readiness and highlight their respective positioning.
Bank of America HSBC JPMorgan Chase BBVA DBS Bank
Bank of America offers an ever-expanding digital platform, including the Erica chatbot, and has had recorded significant upticks in digital usage and engagement during the pandemic.
Along with that, JPMorgan Chase has experimented with blockchain and has made acquisitions, such as that of wealth manager Nutmeg in the UK to boost its offerings.
At the same time, HSBC has launched innovative new solutions, such as HSBC Kinetic for small businesses in the UK, with BBVA launching initiatives including cryptocurrency trading and DBS Bank having high levels of digital engagement.
We’ve reported that 4 out of 5 consumers worldwide would use biometric payment card.
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